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Jake Tye
Apr 18, 2026
Updated at Apr 20, 2026, 18:14
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Stars unveil their Game 1 lineup against the Wild, featuring offensive firepower and defensive stalwarts ready to ignite this playoff showdown.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs open with a highly anticipated first round matchup as the Dallas Stars host the Minnesota Wild in Game 1, pitting the West’s third ranked team against the seventh. The clubs split their season series, though Dallas enters with momentum after a recent comeback win and a five game-winning streak. 

The Stars are led by breakout forward Wyatt Johnston and top scorer Jason Robertson, with Miro Heiskanen expected to bolster the lineup, while Esa Lindell also produced strongly in the head to head matchups. Minnesota counters with offensive standouts Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov, along with key contributions from Vladimir Tarasenko and Jared Spurgeon.

With both teams featuring depth and firepower, the series is expected to be tightly contested, with Game 1 potentially setting the tone.

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Dallas Stars’ Expected Line Combinations vs. Minnesota (Game 1)

Hryckowian - Johnston - Rantanen

Robertson - Duchene - Bourque

Steel - Hyry - Benn

Back - Faksa - Blackwell

Lindell - Heiskanen

Harley - Lundkvist

Bichsel - Myers

Oettinger

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